Sweepstick



L. R. HEIM SWEE'PSTICK April 15, 1952 2 sHEETs-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1949 i A I :inventor M (Ittornegs Patented Apr. 15, 1952 SWEEPSTICK Lewis R. Heim, Fairfield, Conn., assigner lto The Heim Company, Fairfield, Conn., a .corporation of Connecticut Application August 5, 1949, 'Serial No. 108,704

7 Claims. (C1. 1,39*151) This invention relates to sweepsticks for use in looms and the like, and has for an object to provide a new and improved sweepstick which will have sufficient flexibility and resiliency to absorb much of the shocks involved in operating the mechanism in shifting the shuttle back and forth through the shed, and the body portion of which sweepstick is formed of molded material having this flexibility and resiliency.

A further object is to provide such an improved sweepstick with an improved bearing in at least one end which is capable of lateral rocking ipovement to compensate for misalignment without causing cramping or other binding action, and in which this bearing is so constructed that it has locking means cooperating with the molded material to secure the bearing in the sweepstick.

A sweepstiek is used in the mechanism of a loom which forces the shuttle back and forth through the shed. This operation involves a considerable shock to the mechanism which is repeated in every operation of the shuttle. It is desirable to provide this mechanism with sufficient iiexibility, yielding and resiliency which will absorb much of the shock incident to the operation of the shuttle and operating mechanism, to thus eliminate as far as possible breakage of the parts and reduce wear. It is also desirable to have a bearing in the sweepstick capable of compensating for misalignment Without cramping or binding. ln this invention these desirable results are secured by making either the whole body of the sweepstick, or at least a portion of it, of a flexible, resilient, yielding, shock-.absorbing material, such, for example, as vulcanized rubber or other suitable plastic; or it could be of any other suitable yielding, resilient, shock-absorbing material capable of being molded about the bearing. A sweepstick of this material not only has a certain amount of yield or resiliency longitudinally to absorb longitudinal strains or shocks, but is also capable-of a certain amount of lateral bendingor yielding, and by molding in the sweepstick body comprising this material an improved bearing which is capable of lateral rocking movement, the construction effectively absorbs both longitudinal and lateral shock and also compensates for misalignment without binding or cramping eiect. By molding the material about the bearing the bearing may be readily locked and secured I in position without danger of its working loose or becoming separated from the body of the sweepstick, and the operations of mounting the bearing in the sweepstic-k are decreased as the bearing may be mounted at the same time and with the V2 operation of molding the body of the sweepstick. This construction greatly increases the klife not only of the sweepstick itself, but also the .00nnected mechanism with which it is used, and irnproving operation of the device as well as greatly increasing its operative life and eiiiciency.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated' in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications Within the scope of the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of my improved sweepstick;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through one end portion of the sweepstick, the other end portion being shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a partial section and partial side elevation of the ring members of the bearing shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partialsection and partial side elevation similar to Fig. 2 showing a slight modification;

Fig. 5 is a partial section and partial side elevation of the bearing rings of Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing another modied form;

Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal section and partial side view of the form of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a partial longitudinal section and partial side elevation similar to Fig. 7 showing another modification.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the stick comprises a body I0 of any suitable cross ksentan, preferably substantially rectangular as shown,v formed of some suitable yielding, resilient shockabsorbing material such, for example, as vulcanized rubber or other plastics, which is sufficiently .hard and rigid to retain its shape and still have a certain amount of yield, resiliency and flexibility to absorb shocks in operation but still -will trans mit the necessary force required for this operation. It may be a solid bar of this vulcanized rubber or other plastics, or it could contain strengthening elements (not shown). At one end it may have a bearing II for connection to the mechanism with which it is used, and this bearing may be plain or other suitable type of bearing.

At the opposite end it is provided with an 1mproved bearing l2 including an element capable of lateral rocking movement to compensate for misalignment in the parts connect-ed by this lshown at 23. as the material of the bar is molded about the molded material.

gether by the molded material.

` at 29. mounted inthe body I0 by molding the material about it, the same as in the first form, and the bearing is effectively locked in this material by the peripheral flanges or ribs 21 forming a corresponding groove in the molded material and filling this groove.

I8 for connection with the operating mechanism.

This bearing is mounted in the material of the body I by molding this material about the bearing. In doing this the bearing is first assembled by placing the two rings I and IS about the member I3, and preferably with their inner ends abutting, as shown at I9 in Fig. 2, and it is then supported by suitable means in the mold to locate it in proper position, andlthen the material is molded in the mold about the bearing. If the material is a rubber mixture it may be vul- "canized by heat and pressure after molding. 'Means is provided on the bearing for cooperating with themolding material to lock or otherwise retain the Vbearing in proper position in the molded element. In the form of Fig. 2 each ring SI5 and I3 is provided with a peripheral outer Aflange at its inner end, which is of greater diameter than the body of the ring and the outer Wallof which flange is preferably tapered or inclined asishown at 2I.l At the outer side of this iiange the outer surface of the body of the ring between this taper and the outer end 22 of this ring is also preferably inclined or tapered, as With this shape and structure,

bearing, the bearing will form a cavity in the material the surfaces'of whichcorrespond to the outer surfaces of the ring, and thus the ribs or flanges 20 will form a corresponding peripheral groove in the material which interlocks with the flanges to permanently and effectively mount the bearing in the bar and retain it in proper position therein. Additional means for preventing k outward movement of the rings is also provided by the tapered surfaces 23 cooperating with the The two rings are held too The form of bearing I2 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is substantially the same as that of Figs. 2 and y 3, except that the rings 24 and 25 correspondj ing to the rings I5 andl IS-ofthe first form, instead of being tapered or inclined on their outer surfaces between the inclined surfaces 25 of the ribs orflanges 21 and the outer end 28 of the rings, is substantially straight or cylindrical, as shown Otherwise, the bearing is located and fIn the form of the device shown in Figs. 6 and j y'71 the bearing I2 is molded in the material of the body I0 and is locked therein by a suitable 'locking means on the bearing cooperating with the material in a similar manner to the forms of f- Figs.v 1 to'15. In this form of the bearing, however, instead of molding the bearing rings 3U and 3 I for the spherical bearing member I3 directly in the material of the body I0, they are mounted in an outer metal sleeve 32, this sleeve, however, being part of the bearing structure, and the material of the body I0 is molded about the bearing the same as in the first forms, but in this case is directly molded about the sleeve 32. This sleeve is provided with locking means cooperating with the molded material of the body to position and retain the bearing in this material. In the form of Fig. '7, this sleeve is provided with a peripheral outer flange or rib 33 at the opposite ends of the sleeve with a body portion 34 between these flanges of less diameter, so as to provide between the flanges a wide peripheral groove which is filled by the molded material to effectively lock the bearing in the body member. The inner side walls of the peripheral flanges 33 are preferably inclined or tapered, as shown at 35.

In this construction, the bearing I3 is mounted in the sleeve 32 by forcing two metal rings 36 simultaneously against the opposite sides of bearing member I3. These rings 35, as shown in dotted lines, have an exterior cylindrical surface ...3T which 'is of 'substantially the diameter of the entrance opening 38 of an inclined socket 39 in thesleeve 32, the wall of the socket tapering inwardly and outwardly, so that its diameter at its inner end is larger than the diameter of inlet opening 38. It will be noted there are two of these sockets on opposite sides of a central rib 4I). The inner surface of the ring 36 is partly spherical as shown at 4I, and substantially straight adjacent its inner end as shown at 42, the diameter of this inner surface being less than 'the diameter of the spherical surface I4 of the member I3, so that when these two rings are forced inwardly against the member I3, the innel"v end of 'the ring will contact the surface of vthe member I3 a short distance within the entrance opening 38 or at about the point 43, and as theyare further forced against the member I3 the spherical surface of this member will expand the rings outwardly so that they will fill the sockets 39 in the sleeve 32, and will cause the inner surfaces 39a and 3Ia of the rings to lassume the spherical surface of the member I3.

vThis method of assembling the bearing and vthese bearing members are assembled in the same way in an outer metal sleeve 44. This bearing is molded in the body -member- IB the same as in the forms above described. The locking means for retaining the bearing in this material is, how- 'l ever, somewhat differ-ent. In this case the sleeve 44 is provided with a peripheral groove 45 at substantially the transverse center thereof, and it is beveled at its outer edges, as shown at 46. When the body of the material is molded about this bearing it will fiow into and fill the groove 45 and also iiow over the beveled surfaces 46, thus forming cooperating-ribs and grooves for locking the bearing in the molded material. The portion 41 of the sleeve between the groove 45 and the bevel 46 is really in effect a rib or fiange embedded in the molded material in la correspondingly shaped groove to lock the bearing in the bar.

It will be seen from the above that in all the forms of the device shown, the bearing is molded in the flexible resilient material of the body IG of the sweepstick, and that in each instance the bearing is provided with locking means cooperatimg with the molded material to effectively secure the bearing in its proper position within the body of the sweepstick; also that in each form the bearing and the material have cooperating ribs and grooves for locking the bearing in the body members. It will be understood that other shapes and arrangements of locking means may be used.

This construction and arrangement provides a very eiective means for mounting and securing the bearing in the body of the sweepstick, and the operation of mounting this bearing in the sweepstick can be performed in the same operation as that of forming the stick, eliminating separate operations for this purpose. Also, this molded construction eifectively locks the bearing in the material so that there is no danger of its working loose or shifting out of position, and therefore it will maintain its proper position in the sweepstick indefinitely.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a connecting bar provided with means at one end for connection to a driving member and means at the other end for connection to a driven member, said bar being composed of a molded ilexible resilient material capable of limited yielding both laterally and longitudinally under strain, one of said means -comprising a bearing including a spherical central member provided with a bearing passage therethrough, said bearing also including la pair of enclosing rings located one on each of the opposite sides of the central member and having bearing surfaces forming portions of a spherical surface to grip and hold the central member for rocking movement, said bar being molded in one piece about the bearing, and lockirig means on the bearing cooperating with the material of the bar to retain the bearing in the bar.

2. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a connecting bar of molded resilient flexible material yieldable under strain, said bar being provided with means at its opposite ends for connecting the bar to driving and driven mechanisms, one of said means comprising a bearing including a spherical bearing member, said bearing also including a pair of supporting rings for the bearing member on opposite sides of the transverse center thereof and provided with spherical inner surfaces to correspond with that of the bearing member, said bar being molded about the bearing, and said bearing and bar having interlocking ribs and grooves to retain the bearing in the bar.

3. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a substantially rectangular bar of molded resilient shock-absorbing material provided at one end with a bearing for connection in a driving mechanism, said bearing including a spherical bearing member, a pair of supporting rings for the bearing member on the opposite sides thereof having spherical inner surfaces corresponding with that of the bearing member, said bar being molded about the bearing, and the bearing being provided with exterior locking surfaces against which the material of the bar is molded to secure the bearing in the bar.

4. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a substantially rectangular bar of molded resilient shock-absorbing material, a bearing at one end for connection in a driving mechanism comprising a spherical bearing member, a pair of supporting rings embracing the spherical member from the opposite sides thereof and provided with inner spherical surilaces corresponding with that of the bearing member, and the bearing being provided with one or more exterior peripheral flanges embedded in the molded material in the molding operation to secure the bearing in the bar.

5. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a connecting bar of molded resilient material, a bearing in one end of the bar comprising a spherical bearing member, a pair of supporting rings enclosing the bearing member and provided with internal spherical sockets to embrace the bearing member, and the rings being each provided with an external peripheral flange about which the material of the bar is molded to retain the bearing in the bar.

6. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a connecting bar of molded resilient material, a bearing in one end of the bar comprising a spherical bearing member, a pair of supporting rings enclosing the bearing member and provided with internal spherical sockets to embrace the bearing member, and the inner ends of the rings being in abutment and each provided with an external peripheral flange embedded in the material by the molding operation to retain the rings about the bearing member and lock the bearing in the bar.

7. A sweepstick for looms and the like compris:- ing a connecting bar of molded resilient material, a bearing in one end of the bar comprising a spherical bearing member, a pair of supporting rings embracing said member and provided with internal spherical sockets corresponding to the surface of the bearing member, an enclosing sleeve mounting the rings, and said sleeve being provided with external locking flanges against which the material is molded to retain the bearing in the bar.

, LEWIS R. HEIM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

